Abstract: A table specialized for toilet use has a spindle with exceptional access supporting a roll of toilet paper, a tabletop supported by legs at a height and an angle optionally usable by one seated in the ordinary way on a flush toilet seat. An edge retains objects such as reading material on the inclined table top, and a platform with spaced slats supports reading material and the like between floor and toilet paper roll. The roll retracts easily when pushed, so that any selected side of the table can be stored pushed against a wall.

Abstract: A system for supporting an infant in different modes of use includes co-acting infant carrier by which an infant can be carried in arms or supported on a surface at a selected angle, an infant/toddler car seat into which the carrier with the infant can be snapped in place quickly for auto travel and as quickly removed, using only one hand, and a stroller into which the carrier can be inserted and attached for rolling transport.

Abstract: A spring system for stabilizing bifolding door hinged positions includes an integral "C"-shaped spring with at each end of the "C"-shape a respective straight shank formed at right angles to the plane of the "C"-shape in parallel spacing from each other. On each shank is a rotatable tubular sleeve bearing with a collar-shaped enlargement at the end adjacent the "C"-shape, and a retainer on the free end of each shank that keeps the tubular sleeve bearings in place. Installation is by insertion of the tubular sleeve bearings in parallel-spaced drilled holes in the top edges of two doors that are hinged together so that the spring assembly substantially bridges the hinges and biases the faces of the doors together to keep them in the open position, and biases the edges of the doors together to keep them in the closed position.

Abstract: A bench press for small die sets has a rack and pinion that can serve several purposes; as a manual-power drive, as an adjustable stop, when the bench press has a power drive, and as an index that adjustably fixes orientation of the top plate relative to the base. Choice of orientation permits work to be advanced to a die set carried by the bench press from any of four directions and similarly permits access to the handle of the pinion from left or right, front or back. The pinion and handle travel up and down with the upper plate of the bench press and the rack is stationary.

Abstract: A medicine timer provides a frame mounting a series of compartments in a row for holding medicine such as different kinds of pills, either in containers or not. Associatable with each compartment is a respective timer head, by means of detachable electrical plug-in connections in the frame adjacent each compartment. Each timer head, of which five or more can be provided, is adjustable by means of a rotary pointer and hour marks to which pointed to signal at desired times such as, for example, every two hours. A range of selectable times for each timer head of at least up to twenty-four hours is desirable although each timer head may be different. Signal is preferably by sound for a general alert, and by light, each timer head also having a light on it for specific alert, day or night, as well as a reset and an on-off switch button. Battery power is in the frame and preferably the sounding device is also in the frame.

Abstract: An electrostatic precipitator with an inlet and outlet duct having corona forming discharge electrodes to ionize the particulate in the gas stream, and multi-lateral stages of collecting zones to collect particulate from the gas stream by impingement and polarity action. The collecting zones are isolated from the flowing gas so the collected particulate can fall away from the gas stream and avoid intermixing with the gas during the normal cycle of operation and during rapping, to minimize particulate re-entrainment. An improved system of balancing the gas stream as it enters the precipitator and during the course of movement through the collecting zones includes flow dividers located between the edges of the collecting electrodes and movable downstream to provide larger flow openings and movable upstream to provide smaller flow openings, thus producing desired flow control.

Abstract: An improved friction heater with driveshaft that rotates one frictional part relative to another interfitted with it provides, on the driveshaft, screw-and-inertia member to release frictional force between the frictional parts when the frictional parts are being stopped, permitting use of a less powerful drive for start-up and lighter structural support. The interfitted frictional parts are conical in shape and also have automatic-driveshaft release to prevent overheating from wear at the frictional interface after long use. The release provision includes a slot in the lower part of the rotor and a transverse pin in the driveshaft, that engages the slot for normal driving operation. When as result of wear, the relative axial position of rotor and housing changes sufficiently to pass out of the range of normal operation, the slot and pin automatically and correspondingly pass from engagement with each other.

Abstract: An improved hydroelectric system provides automatic adjustment for both tidal (reversing) and river (one way) type flow. A plurality of parallel, axial flow auger-type impellors are mounted in a horizontal plane on a floating, inverted-dry-dock type vessel that has an upper deck mounting hydroelectric generators. The vessel has no bottom beneath the impellors but has parallel with them on each side a tank for buoyancy and level and flow control. Over and under the impellors are pivoting deflectors that direct flow onto the impellors and automatically reverse and rest against appropriate bumper stops when the flow reverses, from one open end to the other open end of the vessel.

Abstract: A barbell support apparatus for weight lifting exercising which has an overhead pulley that supports and guides a single support cable. The support cable is attached at both ends to a barbell. The pulley is suspended from a suspension system that provides for height adjustment of the barbell. Cable stops are adjustably fixed on the support cable on both sides of the pulley to limit linear travel of the support cable across the pulley. A clamping cable collar that can be attached directly to a support line (or cable) is also disclosed.

Abstract: An inflatable seat cushion system has an envelope that will fit in a conventional coat pocket or pocketbook of a user when deflated for storage, includes an envelope having an open side with the open side affixed to the back of the inflatable portion. When the inflatable portion is deflated and folded, preferably, seams as hinge portions, it fits into the integral envelope portion which envelope portion has forward facing margins with fasteners that receive the margins over the folded portions. Pocket-like markings may carry out the theme of "pocket" inflatable cushion.

Abstract: A practical and simple system that automatically measures and dispenses grain and powder type food products, such as sugar and flour contained within a canister type holder. The system consists of a drawer compartmentalized into precisely measured divisions with the topside uncovered and the bottomside selectively covered or uncovered by a moveable slide that allows for the pulling out of the drawer without spillage. The drawer will stop at one of several preset measured positions. These positions are controlled by a spring-pressured arm. With the drawer in a selected position the contents of the outward division or divisions of the drawer are dispensed accurately and immediately by pushing inwardly the moveable slide covering the bottom side. When the drawer is pulled outward an attached trailing horizontal upper slide prevents any of the contents within the canister from filling the empty area behind the drawer when the drawer is pulled out.

Abstract: A system for displaying but protecting while displaying bath and hand and kitchen towels and the like provides for use with a towel bar over which a towel is deployed in the usual manner, a protector or protective cover, size-matched to the towel bar preferably. The system reminds absentminded and careless people not to use towels covered, while keeping the towels on display and ready for instant use. The protective cover has a flat panel with an integral uniformly covered end forming a 180.degree. hook that for self-adjusting and visibility purposes has a uniform radius suited for encompassing one or, if desired, more towels folded over the towel bar. The proportion of hook and panel and bar permits the entirety of a towel or towels to be covered, and provides stability if the cover is stored temporarily on the rack without a towel, or with a towel over it instead of under it.

Abstract: A multi-function weight lifting exercise system has upright guide tracks that carry on opposite faces a detachable bar carriage and a detachable weight carriage. A quick release low pulley apparatus that works with the bar carriage and weight carriage may be adjustably positioned for performing various weight lifting exercises. Steel hooks engaging the upright guide tracks function to suspend the bar carriage on the guide tracks, or to support a standard weight lifting bar with weight plates when the multi-function weight lifting exercise system is arranged for free weight type weight lifting exercising. The bar carriage has a rotating bar apparatus and a safety catch, and the weight carriage is suspended in a biased position against the upright guide tracks when it is lifted from the floor board. The distance between the guide tracks is proportioned for the insertion of a standard weight lifting bench.

Abstract: A novel integrated circuit socket provides splash-preventing capillary action improving half-round section pins that seat better by means of a conical longitudinal shape that wedges in holes in conventional printed circuit boards. The pins have P.C. board top-track contacting spurs at an upper portion that serve two purposes: they improve capillary action and they reduce bellying (i.e. flexing) of the I.C. socket during assembly to the P.C. Board. The invention provides improved visibility by co-action of transparent material of which the I.C. socket is made, with a plurality of Fresnel lenses molded in the bottom surface of the I.C. socket.

Abstract: A plural-castor-mounted lightweight tubular frame has a central resilient housing-clamping mechanism adapted for holding a string trimmer having a tapered or other conventional-shape housing at a desired level for trimming weeds or grass. Mechanical advantage and threaded adjustment are provided by the clamping mechanism. The handle of the string trimmer is employed as the handle by which the castor mounted frame and the trimmer held in it are directed. Quick detach/quick attach features enable the string trimmer to be used conveniently by itself when desired. Two height-adjustment provisions can be used, a coarse adjustment of clamping-height, and a fine adjustment of threaded connection between threaded shanks of the castor and clamping nuts at the frame that also provides convenient tilt-adjustment of the string trimmer relative to the ground.

Abstract: An aerobic digestor for rapidly and efficiently composting waste vegetation and the like has a rotatable drum mounted on a horizontal transverse axis at the midpoint of the length on a frame spacing it above the ground a distance sufficient for rotation; a fixed end of the drum mounts a perforate tube coaxially in the drum between the ends and holes in the fixed end and the removable end of the drum admit air for composting to the perforate tube through adjustable shutters; material being composted in the drum receives air through the tube perforations and may be end-for-ended periodically with the drum at which time the shutter on the end being lowered may be closed to force air up through the dropping charge of waste material.

Abstract: A court game has a plurality of spots on which duckpin shaped "S"-balls are initially positioned in a pattern relative to a greater plurality of pins in a pattern. Players in turn try to score points by caroming a soft rubber ball off an "S"-ball and striking with the caromed soft rubber ball a pin, in a way like billiards. To improve probability of doing so, the player may elect to shift the "S"-ball closer to a pin by throwing a special bat at it, even though throwing a bat costs a score penalty. Pins for soft-court use and for paved or hard court use are described.

Abstract: A snowblower with a power driven intake and discharge fan in a housing has at the front an open face exposing the fan and a transition housing detachably attachable over the open face. The transition housing has a slidable plate or fan cover that rises and can be positioned to leave substantially a snow-height opening at the lower front for most efficient intake of snow by the fan. The transition housing has a concave, radiused lower margin for scooping snow into the circular opening.

Abstract: An improved thermal wire stripper of the type having a slotted metal thermal strip tensioned between the ends of a pair of upstanding, parallel electrodes, provides a gauge selection rotatable member mounted on one of the electrodes and having successive steps for coacting with successively smaller parallel-jaw portions of the slot to prevent nicking wire in stripping it of insulation. A forked support braces the metal thermal strip against excessive deflection that wire stripping might otherwise cause, a plunger actuated slug-flicker flicks away dangling insulation bits left by stripping operations, and a strip-length gauge and finger shield are also provided.